All-American semifinal guarantees American man in 2026 US Open final

Two American men are just two wins away from winning this year's U.S. Open in what would be a major breakthrough for American tennis.

Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe won marathon quarterfinal matches overnight Tuesday, setting up a semifinal showdown that guarantees an American man will play in Sunday's final at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The No. 8-seeded Shelton will now face No. 11-seeded Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday night.

The winner of Friday's semifinal will become the first Black American man to reach a U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and the first Black American man to reach any Grand Slam final since 1996, according to ESPN.

The last American man to play in the U.S. Open finals was Taylor Fritz in 2024. The last American man to win the Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick in 2003.

Tiafoe came from behind to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in a match that lasted nearly five hours Tuesday.

Shelton then upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in another five-set match -- 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) -- that lasted until 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the latest finish in U.S. Open history.

In the final, Shelton or Tiafoe will face either No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev or Karen Khachanov, who are competing in Friday's second semifinal match.

On the women's side, two American players remain in contention.

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Coco Gauff will play No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina in a semifinal match Thursday night after coming from behind to win a three-set quarterfinal match against Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday.

Jessica Pegula will play No. 1 seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the second women's semifinal match, also on Thursday night.

Pegula defeated fellow American Emma Navarro in a three-set quarterfinal match on Tuesday.

Gauff was the last American woman to win the singles title, taking home a victory in 2023.

The U.S. Open women's and men's singles finals will be played on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, respectively.

The 2026 U.S. Open is airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.

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